About the Event

Venue

Bristol Event Center

Central Connecticut’s Foremost Wedding & Event Venue. A Truly One-of-a-Kind Guest Experience.
112 Century Drive, Bristol, CT 06010 Free parking available on site!

Overnight Accomodations

OVERNIGHT ACCOMODATIONS next to the Bristol Event Center:

Home2 Suites by Hilton Bristol
90 Century Drive, Bristol, Connecticut, 06010, USA

Event Menu

Artists & Performers

Emcees

VICTORIA MOONEYis thrilled to be back co-hosting her 4th ENCORE & she’s no stranger to the Playhouse! Tori has been involved with the theater since 2012! She’s performed in many many many TYA productions, Mama Ds Outrageous Romps, & Stop/Time shows. She has taught off and on for Playhouse Theater Academy and was the contact for the ushers. Most recognize her as the lovely face that welcomed you to the Playhouse over the past 11 years, the Front of House Manager! She guarantees it will be a ROCKIN’ evening! 

KEVIN CRONIN (née Barloswki) is ecstatic to return to the stage as the co-host of this year's rockin’ Encore! gala. A multidisciplinary creative artist, change agent, and former host of the wildly popular Mama D's Outrageous Romp, Kevin is passionate about empowering individuals of all ages and abilities through education and the arts. By day, he thrives as the Director of Education and Outreach at Playhouse on Park, but by night, he loves rocking out with his POP out! With over 30 POP productions under his stylish belt as a director, music director, and actor, and over 15 years of teaching experience, Kevin has shared his expertise with renowned organizations such as the Hartt School of Music, Hartford Performs, Bay Path University, and Unified Theatre, among many others. @okthankskev

Performances By:

GABRIELLE BAKER is a Southington, Connecticut native turned NYC performer. She graduated with a BA in Theatre Performance from Wagner College. While at Wagner, Gabrielle spent her summers performing at regional theatres in Connecticut (you may have seen her in Playhouse on Park's production of In the Heights). After graduation she was selected to perform in the Broadway's Rising Stars concert series at the Town Hall in Times Square. Post pandemic, Gabrielle spent her time performing as a Lead Vocalist for Aida Cruise Lines.

DYLAN RYAN is an accomplished musician and actor, having performed in venues across Connecticut. Recent credits include; Roger (Rent), Jesus (Jesus Christ Superstar), Riff Raff (The Rocky Horror Show). Outside of theatre, Dylan has written and released music with On Deck Sound Studio, as well as performed on contract under Cedar Fair Entertainment. His heart goes out to his family, friends and amazing girlfriend for their unwavering support. You can follow his work on all social media platforms @dylanryanmusic :)

GARTH ORLANDO WEST was born and raised in Connecticut and has been singing since the age of 10 in church and been performing on stage since 2006 with various local and community theater companies throughout the state. Over the last 3 years he has worked as a Vocalist on the Disney Wonder as one of the Crawfish Crooner’s in Tiana’s Place and in 2025 performed as the vocalist for the Hollywood South Duo. His most recent credits include Hot Music Benefit concerts in Manchester, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with Blue Fire Theater Company, Ragtime with the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in New Jersey, Five Guys Named Moe with Playhouse on Park, BroadwayCares Equity Fights AIDS 32nd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition 2018 in New York and Damn Yankees at the Priscilla Beach Theater in Massachusetts.

OLIVIA CIAFFAGLIONE began her theater journey at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and went on to earn her BFA in Musical Theater from The Hartt School. At Martin Kellogg Middle School, Olivia teaches English and is heavily  involved with the Drama Club. She was honored to step into the role of director where she had her directorial debut for the school's spring production of Frozen Jr. Olivia has been most recently seen as Maureen in Rent and Heather Chandler in Heathers. 

ARNOLD HARPER II is happy to be back at Playhouse On Park! Arnold played ‘Eat Moe’ in Five Guys Named More. He was recently seen in Waitress at The MUNY and Gun & Powder at Papermill Playhouse (which received New York Times’ Critics Pick). Other favorite credits: Dreamgirls (MCarter Theater), The Full Monty, Kinky Boots (North Shore Music Theatre), The Color Purple (DCPA), Elf (Ogunquit Playhouse), and Ain’t Misbehavin (Barrington Stages, *New York Times’ Critics Pick). Luke 1:37 IG: @arnoldharperii

BILLY BIVONA is an award-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator with a dynamic career spanning performance, composition, and music education. He began studying piano and music theory at the age of four, and later attended the Hartt School of Music, earning a degree in Music Composition and French Horn Performance. As a primarily self taught guitarist, Billy has performed across a wide range of genres and settings, including opening for acclaimed metal acts like Periphery and Scale The Summit, performing with Tony and Grammy nominated artists in various venues, and most notably as the guitarist for the first national tour of Broadway’s hit musical Come From Away; playing for over a million people in 80 cities across the U.S. and Canada. Whether it be through playing music in renowned venues, collaborating with like-minded artists, creating catalogs of original music, or teaching young students, he remains dedicated to fostering innovation and artistic excellence, and above all, holds an endless love for the art of music as a means of expression and as a way to discover, illuminate, and bring to the foreground the many beautiful forces that connect and bring us all together!"

ARIANA VALDES [she | they] Originally from Connecticut, Ariana is a NYC-based performer, arts educator, and creative, continuously inspired to carry on the legacy of a career in the arts by her late mother, costume designer Linda Worthington Valdes. National Tours: The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess u/s), My Fair Lady. Off-Broadway: The Green Room. Developmental: El Otro Oz, Little Duende, Dot Dot Dot. Regional: Somewhere Over the Border (City Theatre/People's Light), In the Heights (STAGES St. Louis/Pennsylvania Shakespeare/Westchester Broadway), Escape to Margaritaville (Mill Mountain Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (Palace Theatre), Seussical (Engeman Theatre), Jerry Springer: The Opera (SpeakEasy Stage), Shrek (Gateway Playhouse), The Sound of Music and Sister Act (Paper Mill Playhouse). Ariana served as Artistic Director of the Ensign-Darling New Voices at The Bushnell for 4 seasons and offers private vocal instruction through her studio, The Mixed Voice Initiative. Proud member of AEA represented by Gregg Baker Management. Upcoming: Waitress (A.C.T. of CT). www.arianavaldes.com | @arianavaldiva

Musical Director

MELANIE GUERIN is grateful to have been part of the Playhouse on Park family since 2008, serving as music director for productions including “In the Heights,” “The Scottsboro Boys,” and “Bandstand.” Melanie holds a Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance and music education, as well as a Master of Music Education degree, both from The Hartt School. She teaches at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High School, where she is currently producing an original musical, “The Burrow”, which will premiere in May. www.melaniebguerin.com

Dancing til' midnight to the music of Latanya Farrell!

Latanya is an ordinary woman with an ordinary life who brings an extraordinary voice to the music scene during live performances and on her debut album “Feelin’ Alright”. Uplifting melodies and powerful vocals are the hallmark of her songs about life, love and happiness. Latanya Farrell has emerged as a band leader full of energy who is uniquely gifted at engaging audiences with her bright smile and impeccable style. Blending Latanya’s original music with popular cover tunes, she performs to packed houses throughout New England. Her presence is infectious and the energy keeps flowing throughout the entire performance with music that ranges from soulful classics to urban contemporary to her inspiring originals.

Extraordinary Voice
Latanya's powerful performances are packed with people both far and near who come to hear her incredible vocals. Dubbed the “Queen of Summer Concerts” by the Hartford Courant in 2013, Latanya Farrell is a multitalented gifted singer, songwriter, and performer with genuine passion, energy, and a love for music and life.

Since winning Connecticut Star Search in 2003, Latanya has had leading musical roles which include performing “Songs in the Key of Life” at the Bushnell Theater as well as other large venues sharing the stage with amazing artists such as Wynton Marsalis and Air Supply.

Latanya has been featured on several albums including her longtime friend and world-renowned saxophonist Jimmy Greene’s Grammy Award nominated album, “A Beautiful Life”, which was dedicated to Jimmy and Nelba Márquez-Greene’s beautiful precious daughter, Ana Grace, who was tragically lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Energetic Performer
Latanya's award-winning vocal talent and style have been influenced by Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, and Jill Scott. With performance roots in her family church and community events, her career took off shortly after she was named Champion of the 2003 Connecticut Star Search competition.

Listen to Latanya and get excited to dance at Encore!

Our Sponsors

2025 SPONSORS

Thank you so much to our 2025 Encore! POP ROCKS sponsors!

RECORDING ARTISTS

BACKGROUND VOCALS

   

2025 UNDERWRITERS

Young Professional Ticket

Entertainment
Richard & Lea Rubenstein

Dinner
Ruth & Ron Van Winkle

Decor
Anonymous

Photo Booth
Gail & David Mangs

Cocktails
Richard & Lea Rubenstein

Desserts
Peter & Gene Evans

Performer Meals
Gaetano & Jayne Albani

Auction

Auction goes live April 16, 2025 | CLICK HERE TO BROWSE AND BID!

click for Auction Donation Info Packet

THANK YOU TO OUR AUCTION DONORS (as of 4/1/25)

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